---

Guest post by: Martin Haworth Become an Author

Tweet

---

---

When we want the best performance with our people, we have to develop smart management skills to get the very best from them. These can easily be learned, implemented and them practiced to build the level of expertise that will be valuable.

Ask Something Personal

This is easy.

By asking something gentle and loose, yet relevant to them, you will take a big step in making the relationship fast.

You see, most people like people who are interested in the things that are important to them. So as managers it's vital to build relationship[s that aren't about the workplace alone, it's the ability to get to know them as real people that counts.

By asking simple questions that really show an interest and curiosity in them as individuals and not just those horrible corporate 'numbers' we so often label our people with, Being as personal as they can let you be, we show we care and are interested.

This in turn build rapport and trust that will grease the wheels when we need to ask more of them to add value to their performance - and our business.

Pay Full Attention

This is as simple as it gets, yet so many managers fail to observe this fundamental relationship building skill.

When you listen to your people, be courteous enough to pay full attention to them, by looking at them, focusing on what they say as well as really understanding what those words that are coming out means.

There's a little more to this. When we engage in one-to-one interactions with people, this is a contract we have to make and keep. A contract that exists between us to show that we value them and their input.

By blocking out interferences, we can make this a creative contribution to the relationship-building we undertake.

Listen to Them

When you show you are listening, you strengthen a relationship and this can happen really quickly, within minutes even.

This is more than paying full attention, because it asks questions of what they tell you.

By linking what they say to the next level of interaction we have, we generate a far closer relationship with them.

They sense that what we heard from them was useful enough to want to know more; to seek greater clarification and even better to show we understand them fully.

Truly listening is without judgement and is purely to gain information and more. The more being that we really 'get them'; who they are, what they feel and how they stand personally on the issue in hand.

Listening is bigger than words - it is being at one with them.

Using these three neat little steps will rapidly accelerate your relationship-building skills, such that you blend the need for good people on your team, with the ability to make it work much more effectively.

Building relationships with employees is a vital requirement for managers. These three small steps will make it much easier.

Related Articles

  Workplace Drama (Tip #57)
  Workplace Motivation for the Smart and Strange: The Key to Success for Leaders (Tip #8)
  Workplace Relationships - What Does Responsibility Mean?
  6 tips for Business Relationship Management
  Social Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
  Effective Business Relationships - Just How Valuable Are They?
  Workplace Motivation: What Most Leaders Lack (Tip #37)
  Stress Management Tips: Managing Stress in the Workplace
  How Are Your People-Management Skills?
  5 Ways to Stop Workplace Drama (Tip #55)
  Management Relationship Building - Your Easy To Do Secret
  Organizational Leadership Communication
  Management Development - Four Advanced Coaching Skills
  “Symptoms That Confirm Your Decision To Look For A New Job, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Why Great Workplace Relationships Are So Valuable
  Effective Business Relationships - What Are They?
  Workplace Motivation: Traits of an Excellent Boss (Tip #67)
  Workplace Relationship Building Challenges - What You Need To Know
  A Tough Economy Can be Good for Your Career
  The Philosophy of Responsibilities in Workplace Relationship Building

Related Forum Posts

Re: LEADERS
No B.S. Time Management
Type of business with building
Re: Five Personality Traits of Successful Business Owners
Re: Top 10 Homebased Franchises for 2011

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Examples Of Strong Corporate Cultures

First Impressions Count

Why I Exchange Business Cards

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.